Evidence of the association between oral health-related quality of life and adolescents' sense of coherence: an integrative review

Abstract

Objective: To observe evidence of the association between oral Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and adolescents' Sense of Coherence (SOC). Methods: Integrative Review of the Literature (IRL) carried out in five databases, in which the descriptors “adolescent”, “sense of coherence”, “quality of life in oral health” were used. Articles published in Portuguese and English that portrayed the theme in the period between 2010-2021 were included. Duplicate articles, all review studies and those that were out of question were excluded. Results: Initially, 6879 articles were identified, leaving 22 articles after observing the eligibility criteria. The publications elected in this IR point to a direct relationship between SOC and health, characterizing it as an effective health promotion agent. Final considerations: Adolescents with high SOC scores are potentially more able to understand, absorb and incorporate the benefits of good health practices and present better oral health conditions when compared to those with low scores, which naturally impacts HRQoL.